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FACTS, 

WHICH  GAVE  RISE 

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90  THE 

Jlefo=§?orft  Sbangelical  JWtestoitarg  god#® 
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TOGETHER  WITH  THE  CONSTITUTION. 


PUBLISHED  BY  DIRECTION  OF  THE  SOCIETY, 


NEW-YORK  • 

PRINTED  BY  DAY  &  TUR%R, 
No.  58  Beaver-stregt. 


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BRIEF  VIEW,  &c. 


DEFERENCE  to  ourselves,  if  not  to  the  public, 
demands  au  explanation  of  the  origin  and  design  of 
the  New-York  Evangelical  Missionary  Society 
of  Young  Men.  An  event  of  so  much  notoriety  as 
the  secession  of  more  than  one  hnndred  young  men 
from  an  Institution,  whose  professed  object  is  “  The 
propagation  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,”  cannot  at 
first  view,  but  be  regarded  with  sentiments  of  regret. 
At  an  age  of  the  world,  when  the  various  deno¬ 
minations  of  Christendom,  begin  to  feel,  “  that 
they  have  attached  too  much  importance  to  the  things 
in  which  they  differ,  and  not  enough  to  those  in 
which  they  agree when  the  dissemination  of  the 
gospel  is  the  great  and  common  cause,  which  unites 
the  affections,  the  prayers  and  the  exertion  of  the 
great  family  of  believers;  and  in  the  promotion  of 
which  they  already  begin  to  find  a  grave  for  their 
party  spirit  and  sectarian  prejudices:  nothing  but 
considerations  of  commanding  influence  can  justify  a 
disjunction  of  missionary  labors.  “  Charity  suffereth 
long but  there  is  a  point  beyond  which  Christian 
forbearance  cannot  be  extended,  and  when  the  “  wis¬ 
dom  that  cometh  from  above’’  demands  a  struggle, 
“  not  only  to  extend  the  Redeemer’s  Kingdom  abroad, 
but  maintain  its  independence  at  home.” 


i 


(  4  ) 

Considerations  of  this  imperative  character  did 
exist ,  and  led  to  the  organization  of  this  infant  Insti¬ 
tution.  On  the  23d  of  January,  1809,  a  number  of 
young  men  of  different  religious  denominations  in  the 
city  of  New-York,  formed  themselves  into  a  society, 
“  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  fund  to  aid  in  promot¬ 
ing  the  objects  of  the  New-York  Missionary  Society.55 
So  unexpected  was  the  success,  and  so  hopeful  the 
promise  of  this  Institution,  that  on  the  14th  February, 
1816,  it  resolved  on  the  future  management  of  its 
own  funds  independently  of  the  parent  society.  It 
was  no  longer  “  The  Assistant  New-York  Missionary 
Society,”  but  the  “  Young  Men’s  Missionary  Society 
of  New-York.” 

Though  it  was  expected,  that  this  Institution 
would  consecrate  its  efforts  to  the  great  work  of 
disseminating  the  gospel,  without  descending  to 
the  littleness  of  party  distinctions  ;  circumstances 
of  no  equivocal  import,  very  early  indicated  that 
there  were  some  unhappy  jealousies  in  the  Board  of 
Directors  on  the  subject  of  Christian  Theology.  A  stu¬ 
dious  effort  to  avoid  bringing  the  points  of  difference 
into  view,  together  with  the  spirit  of  mutual  concilia¬ 
tion  and  confidence,  which  appeared  to  be  gradually 
increasing,  it  was  hoped  would  repress  every  thing  like 
secret  alienation,  as  well  as  remove  the  possibility  of 
open  rupture.  But  in  this  respect  the  fondest  hopes 
were  defeated.  These  miserable  jealousies  had 
never  slept.  At  their  recent  session,  on  the  11th  Not . 
last,  Mr  Samuel  Hanson  Cox,  without  his  own  knowl¬ 
edge,  was  nominated  to  the  Board  as  a  suitable  can- 


(  5  ) 

didate  for  the  missionary  service.  Mr.  Cox  was  him¬ 
self  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Society,  and  in 
October  last,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 
the  unanimous  vote  of  the  “  Presbytery  of  New-York.” 
The  minority  were  at  no  loss  to  determine  that  this 
nomination  was  not  grateful  to  the  majority  of  the 
Board.  As  the  most  compendious  method  of  over¬ 
ruling  it,  and  with  the  impression  that  the  funds  of 
the  Society  would  not  authorise  the  appointment  of 
more  than  one  Missionary  in  addition  to  the  one  in 
actual  employment,  the  Rev.  Arthur  Joseph  Stans- 
bury,  of  the  “  Associate  Reformed”  church,  was  in¬ 
troduced  to  the  Board  as  a  rival  candidate.  With 
the  hope  of  avoiding  concussion,  and  with  the  de¬ 
sire  to  evince  an  exemption  from  party  prejudice,  the 
mover  of  the  resolution  nominating  Mr.  Cox,  begged 
leave  to  insert  the  name  of  Mr.  Stansbury,  in  conjunc¬ 
tion  with  that  of  Mr.  Cox : — thus  placing  the  candi¬ 
dates  of  either  side  on  equal  ground.  But  the  diffi¬ 
culty  was  neither  removed  nor  diminished.  The  ap¬ 
prehension  was  too  well  grounded,  that  the  object  to 
be  secured  by  the  majority  was  not  the  appointment 
of  Mr.  Stansbury,  so  much  as  the  rejection  of  Mr. 
Cox.  The  appearance  of  this  determination,  while 
it  did  not  allay  the  fears  of  the  minority,  excited  equal 
surprise  and  regret.  Nothing  but  the  thorny  field  of 
controversy  now  lay  before  them.  Still  reluctant 
however,  to  hazard  the  interests  of  a  society  hitherto 
so  prosperous,  anxious  to  avert  the  probable  issues  of 
a  public  conflict,  most  unwilling  to  embarrass  the  Re¬ 
deemer’s  cause,  by  aissentions  among  his  professed 


t  6  ) 

followers,  the  minority  were  happy  to  have  it  under, 
stood,  that  the  subject  be  informally  referred  to  the 
Committee  of  Missions. 

That  Committee  were  convened  the  following  Mon¬ 
day.  The  name  of  Mr.  Cox  was  mentioned  with  dif¬ 
fidence  and  solicitude.  No  objection  was  made  to 
his  talents  or  piety.  It  was  too  well  known  to  be  dis¬ 
puted,  that  in  both  these  particulars  he  enjoyed  no 
small  share  of  public  confidence.  The  majority  of 
the  Committee  however,  had  unhappily  associated 
with  the  name  of  Mr.  Cox,  certain  religious  senti¬ 
ments,  which  they  deemed  “unsound,”  and  which 
they  supposed  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  character 
of  a  useful  Missionary.  It  was  not  to  be  conceal¬ 
ed,  that  in  the  great  outlines  of  truth,  his  view's  ac¬ 
corded  rather  with  those  entertained  by  Calvin,  Ed¬ 
wards,  Bellamy,  Scott,  Smalley,  Dwight,  Pearce, 
Hyland  and  Fuller,  and,  indeed,  with  the  great  body 
of  the  Christian  world,  at  this  period  of  enlightened 
piety,  than  with  the  incoherent  and  unintelligible 
dogmas  with  which  local  intolerance  seems  resolved 
to  burden  the  church  of  Christ.  If  not  to  believe 
that  we  actually  sinned  in  Eden,  six  thousand  years 
before  W'e  were  born  ; — if  not  to  believe  that  the  ina¬ 
bility  of  the  unregenerate  to  comply  with  the  terms 
of  salvation,  is  the  same  as  their  inability  to  pluck 
the  sun  from  his  orbit; — if  not  to  believe  that  the 
depravity  of  man  'destroys  his  accountablenc  * 
il  not  to  believe  that  the  atonement  is  made  ex¬ 
clusively  for  the  elect  f — if  not  to  believe  that  the  elect 
are  invested  with  a  title  to  eternal" life,  on  principles 


(  T  ) 

of  distributive  justice,  and  that,  while  destitute  of  re¬ 
generating  and  sanctifying  grace  ; — if  not  to  believe 
that  the  Christian’s  love  of  God  is  founded  in  selfish- 
ness,  as  completely  as  the  miser’s  love  of  gold  if 
want  of  assent  to  these  repulsive  notions  disqualifies  a 
naan  for  the  Missionary  service then  doubtless  Mr. 
Cox  is  disqualified.  But  if  a  cordial  adherence  to  the 
truth,  that  through  the  sin  of  Adam  all  mankind  are 
sinners,  from  the  moment  of  their  own  existence;— 
that  the  inability  of  the  un regenerate,  though  absolute, 
inculpates  rather  than  excuses  them ;  that  notwith¬ 
standing  his  apostacy,  man  is  still  a  free  agent,  and 
accountable  for  his  character ; — that  the  atonement 
is  unlimited  in  its  nature,  and  limited  only  in  its  ap¬ 
plication  that  the  salvation  of  the  elect  is  not  of 
debt,  but  of  grace ; — that  all  holy  affection,  though 
caused  by  the  Divine  Spirit,  is  founded  on  the  divine 
excellence,  rather  than  the  divine  favour ; — if  a  firm 
belief  and  cordial  reception  of  these  glorious  truths, 
qualifies  a  man  for  the  ministry  of  reconciliation : — then 
the  minority  have  every  reason  to  concur  in  the  unani¬ 
mous  opinion  of  the  Presbytery  of  New- York,  that 
Mr.  Cox  is  qualified. 

Notwithstanding  this  diversity  of  sentiment, 
it  has  been  well  understood,  that  there  was  no  re¬ 
luctance  on  the  part  of  the  minority  to  co-operate 
with  the  majority,  in  any  measures  to  advance 
the  Missionary  cause.  While  the  minority  loved  the 
truth  and  designed  to  maintain  it,  it  was  far  from  their 
purpose  and  their  wishes,  that  the  spirit  of  theological 
controversy  should  ever  creep  into  the  Missionary  So- 


% 


ciety,  or  these  differences  in  doctrine  ever  be  recogni^ 
zed  in  their  appointment  of  Missionaries.  Nor  can 
they  be  accused  of  a  single  departure  from  this  catho¬ 
lic  principle.  In  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Cox,  they 
asked  no  more  than  they  were  willing  to  give.  Pre¬ 
suming  that  questions  of  similar  import  might  here¬ 
after  agitate  the  Society,  unless  the  present  case  should 
be  avowedly  decided  as  a  precedent,  the  Committee 
agreed  without  a  dissenting  voice,  though  without  a 
formal  vote,  to  deliberate  and  decide  upon  the  present 
nomination,  as  involving  the  principle,  Whether  any 
man  holding  Mr.  Cox's  sentiments  should  be  eligible  to 
their  employment?  With  this  important  question  be¬ 
fore  them,  they  separated  without  a  decision  :  agree¬ 
ing  solemnly  and  prayerfully  to  review  the  whole  sub¬ 
ject  and  convene  for  their  final  decision  on  the  follow¬ 
ing  Friday.  > 

On  Friday,  all  were  present  except  one  in  the 
minority.  There  was  much  inquiry  and  some  dis¬ 
cussion.  After  having  received  a  full  developement 
of  Mr.  Cox’s  views  from  a  member  of  their  own  board/ 
the  Committee  resolved,  “  That  it  is  inexpedient  to' 
“  recommend  Mr.  Cox  to  the  Board  of  Directors  as  a 
Missionary.’’  The  ground  of  this  resolution  was  but 
©ne  : — That  the  religious  sentiments  of  Mr.  Cox  sa¬ 
voured  so  much  of  error,  and  contained  so  visibly 
the  germ  of  heresy,  that  the  Committee  felt  bound  to’ 
withhold  from  him  their  sanction  as  a  Missionary  of 
the  cross.  The  votes  stood  four  for,  and  two  against 
this  resolution ;  when  it  was  resolved  unanimously / 
*c  That  it  is  expedient  to  recommend  to  the  Board 
the  Rev.  Arthur  J.  Stansbury  as  a  Missionary;’* 


r 


(  »  ) 


The  evening  of  the  same  day  was  to  convene  the 
Board  of  Directors  to  receive  the  repor:  of  this 
Committee.  On  the  reading  of  this  report  it  was 
moved,  “  That  notwithstanding  the  decision  of 
the  Committee  of  Missions,  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Cox  be 
appointed  a  Missionary  in  the  service  of  the  Society 
for  the  term  of  six  months.”  Aft  r  discussing  this 
resolution  at  considerable  length,  the  board  determi¬ 
ned,  to  follow  the  example  of  the  Committee  of  Mis¬ 
sions,  and  defer  their  decision  to  a  further  meeting. 
On  Friday  of  the  next  week  they  met,  when  all  the 
Directors  were  present.  Either  with  the  h  pe  of  avoid¬ 
ing  a  full  discussion  of  the  resolution  on  the  table,  or 
with  the  expectation  that  the  minority  would  resist 
the  proposal,  it  was  moved  by  the  majority,  “  That 
the  further  consideration  of  the  proposition  respecting 
the  employment  of  Mr.  Cox  be  deferred  in  order  to 
consider  the  recommendation  of  the  Committee  of 
Mission ->  respecting  Mr.  Mansbury.  Whatever  might 
have  been  the  views  of  the  minority  of  such  a  course 
<5f  meas  ir  s.  they  determined  not  to  oppose  them,  and 
therefore  cordially  united  with  the  majority  in  enga¬ 
ging  Mr.  Stansbury  as  their  Missionary.  1  he  contrast 
between  the  conduct  pursued  by  the  minority,  and 
that  persisted  in  by  the  major  ty,  must  strike  every 
chr  stian  eye  and  impress  itself  on  every  Christian 
heart. 

Not  without  the  hope  that  the  liberal  senti¬ 
ments  of  the  minority  in  this  appointment  would  soft¬ 
en  the  rigour  of  the  majority,  the  motion  was  renewed 
for  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Cox.  Very  considerable 

B 


(  10  ) 

discussion  ensued.  The  minority  used  every  effort  t© 
ward  off  and  lighten  the  shock.  They  entreated  the 
majority  to  avoid  the  hazard  of  a  rash  decision.  They 
entreated  them  to  regard  the  honour  and  prosperity  of 
the  common  cause.  They  entreated  them  not  to  lose 
sight  of  the  grand  object  of  the  Institution,  and  forget 
the  claims  of  the  perishing  heathen.  But  it  was  all 
in  vain.  A  tide  had  set  in  which  could  not  be  turned 
Out  of  its  course;  a  torrent  which  it  was  hopeless  to 
resist ;  a  deluge  of  intolerance  which  threatened  to 
sweep  away  every  mound,  and  in  its  progress,  to  de¬ 
solate  the  fairest  portions  of  the  Redeemer’s  heritage. 
The  lamentable  decision  was  passed,  negativing  the 
appointment  of  Mr.  Cox  as  a  Missionary,  and  virtually 
recognizing  the  principle,  that  no  man  of  similar  views # 
could  be  patronized  by  the  Board.  The  votes  on  this> 
question  stood  twelve  to  six.  Two  members  of  the 
Board  at  heart  with  the  minority,  from  considerations 
of  peculiar  delicacy  which  did  them  honour,  declined 
voting ;  who  from  considerations  of  high  attachment  to 
truth  and  justice,  which  have  done  them  greater  honour, 
have  since  connected  themselves  with  the  newly  or¬ 
ganized  Institution,  and  accepted  aseatin  its  Direction. 

There  is  something  in  the  retrospect  of  what  is 
wrong  that  goads  the  mind.  After  all  the  promptness 
with  which  it  is  accomplished,  the  aspect  of  evil  after 
it  is  done,  is  ugly  and  distressing.  The  deed  was  per¬ 
formed  ;  and  it  was  fondly  thought  that  some  misgiv¬ 
ings  of  heart  were  discoverable  on  the  part  of  the  majo¬ 
rity.  The  inquiry  was  made  by  the  minority  and  re¬ 
iterated  by  the  less  determined  of  the  majority,  “  Is 


(  11  ) 

there  no  way  in  which  the  breach  can  be*  healed  V' 
Lest  it  should  be  imagined  by  some  of  the  majority? 
and  lest  the  intimation  should  possibly  be  suggested 
at  some  future  period,  that  the  minority  were  contend¬ 
ing  for  an  individual,  rather  than  those  whom  he  re¬ 
presented,  and  were  more  attached  to  the  name  of  Mr. 
Cox,  than  to  the  principle  involved  in  their  discussion, 
they  submitted  the  proposition  on  the  spot,  though 
not  by  a  formal  resolution,  to  unite  with  the  majority 
in  declaring  it  to  be  inexpedient  to  appoint  Mr.  Cox, 
provided  the  majority  would  yield  the  principle ,  that  a 
licentiate,  or  minister  in  good  standing,  holding  Mr. 
Cox's  sentiments,  should  not  be  considered  as  an  outlaw 
from  the  missionary  service.  This  proposition  was  re¬ 
jected  with  a  tone  of  such  decision  by  the  leaders  of 
the  majority,  that  there  was  no  other  alternative,  than  for 
the  minority,  either  silently  to  withdraw  from  the  So¬ 
ciety,  or  bring  the  whole  subject  before  them  at  their 
annual  meeting,  which  was  just  at  hand.  To  the  latter 
course  they  were  urged  as  well  by  “  a  multitude  of 
of  counsellors,”  as  by  every  correct  sentiment  of  duty 
to  themselves  and  the  church  of  God.  Especially  did 
they  consider  the  claims  of  the  Society  imperative,  be¬ 
cause  of  the  fourteen  congregations  of  which  it  was 
composed, no  less  than  six  of  its  Directors  were  from  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  Garden-street.  What¬ 
ever  might  be  the  views  of  the  great  body  of  the  So¬ 
ciety  of  the  points  of  faith  discussed  in  the  Board,  the 
minority  did  ndtr believe  that  they  would  justify  tho 
Directors  in  making  these  differences  the  governing 
principle  of  their  conduct  in  the  appointment  of  Mis’* 


(  12  ) 

sionaries.  At  the  close  of  their  annual  meeting  there- 
fore,  a  brief  statement  of  what  had  transpired  in  the 
Board,  was  succeeded  by  the  following 

Ri  ^solution  :  “  Whereas  it  appears  that  some 
“  unhappy  differences  of  opinion,  concerning  certain 
“  religious  doctrines,  have  existed  in  the  minds  of  the 
“  Directors  of  this  Society,  and  that  these  differences, 
“  though  involving  nothing  inconsistent  with  the  Con¬ 
stitution  or  object  of  this  Society,  have  unduly  in* 
“  fluenced  the  Board  of  Directors  in  their  appoint- 
“  inent  of  Missionaries  :  therefore, 

“  Resolved ,  that  the  Society  [disapprove  such  mea* 
“  sures  as  have  been  pursued  by  the  Board,  recogniz- 
“  ing  the  differences  abovementioned,  as  the  govern- 
“  ing  principles  .of  their  conduct,  and]  most  earnestly 
“  recommend  to  them,  in  their  proceedings  as  Direc- 
“  tors,  to  leave  out  of  view  all  those  disagreements  in 
“  sentiment,  which  may  have  a  tendency  to  weaken 
“  the  union  and  paralyze  the  efforts  of  this  once  har- 
“  monious  Association.’’  After  much  altercation  and 
unwearied  effort  to  avoid  the  discussion,  by  repeated 
motions  of  “  amendment” — by  the  introduction  of 
“substitutes”— and  by  one  unmanly  effort  at  an  “  in¬ 
definite  postponement — the  minority  were  permitted 
to  enter  upon  the  discussion,  having  stricken  out  of 
the  original  resolution,  the  clause  expressly  disapprov¬ 
ing  the  conduct  of  the  Directors.  The  discussion  was 
long.  The  points  of  difference  in  religious  opinion 
were  necessarily  brought  into  view,  opposed  by  the 
one  party,  and  defended  by  the  other.  In  the  course 
of  the  argument  the  minority  freely  referred  to  the  Sa« 


(  13  ) 

ered  Scriptures  in  justification  of  their  views  ;  feeling 
it  their  duty  to  maintain  the  principles  they  avowed, 
by  unequivocal  declarations  of  the  word  of  God,  ra¬ 
ther  than  by  denouncing  the  opinions  of  other  men, 
or  by  appealing  to  human  authorities.  The  course 
they  pursued  however  did  not  pass  without  reprehen¬ 
sion.  They  were  not  a  little  surprized  to  hear  a  Rev. 
gentleman  of  the  majority  rise  and  express  his  hope, 
that  if  any  person  should  introduce  arguments  from 
the  Bible  in  support  of  his  positions,  he  should  be  con¬ 
sidered  out  of  order  ;  adding,  that  if  this  course  were 
admitted,  the  discussion  might  be  protracted  through 
the  winter.  Nor  was  their  mortification  diminished, 
to  hear  another  Rev.  gentleman  of  the  majority  con¬ 
cur  in  this  extraordinary  proposal.  Safe  as  such  a 
measure  would  have  proved  to  the  majority,  and  lit¬ 
tle  as  they  wished  to  be  incumbered  with  Scripture  tes¬ 
timony,  happily  no  question  was  formally  taken  on  the 
subject.  The  period  had  not  yet  arrived,  when  by  a 
solemn  vote  of  a  religious  assembly,  quotations  from 
the  word  of  God  should  be  declared  “  out  of  order,” 
in  the  discussion  of  a  Theological  question. 

After  several  long  evenings,  the  strength  and  pa¬ 
tience  of  the  Society  were  exhausted.  As  the  dis¬ 
cussion  drew  toward  a  close,  and  it  was  seen  that 
a  division  in  the  Society  would  be  the  inevitable 
result  of  a  vote  implicitly  sanctioning  the  conduct 
of  the  Directors,  the  minority  resolved  to  make 
one  more  effort  to  save  from  impending  ruin,  ail 
Institution  reared  by  united  labors,  and  cemented 
by  united  prayers  and  tears.  They  exnrtssed 
their  willingness  to  strip  the  resolution  on  the  ta* 


(  14  ) 

ble  of  every  tiling  that  should  have  a  retrospective 
influence ;  they  were  anxious  to  overlook  all  that  was 
past,  provided  they  could  have  some  pledge  of  tolera¬ 
tion  for  the  time  to  come.  Unwilling  to  relinquish 
this  last,  though  almost  forlorn  hope,  they  begged  the 
privilege  of  submiting  a  Resolution,  simply  recogniz¬ 
ing  the  principle ,  “  That  licentiates  or  ministers  of 
“  the  gospel  in  good  standing  in  the  church  of  Christ, 
w  and  acknowledged  to  be  sound  in  the  faith,  by  a 
“  Judicatory  of  either  the  f  Dutch  Reformed,’  ‘  As- 
u  sociate  Reformed,’  or  4  Presbyterian  Churches’, 
“  and  who  possess  in  the  judgment  of  the  Directors, 
<c  the  other  proper  qualifications  as  Missionaries,  shall 
“  be  indiscriminately  employed  by  the  Society.” 
More  than  this,  the  minority  consented  not  to  ask  ; 
less,  it  was  thought  the  majority  could  not  give.  The 
only  question  then  was,  whether,  irrespective  of  their 
differences  of  sentiment,  the  Society  would,  upon 
principles  that  were  impartial  and  honorable,  com¬ 
bine  their  efforts  in  the  Missionary  cause. 

It  was  the  joy  of  the  minority  to  be  permitted  to 
live  in  an  age  of  the  world  which  calls  upon  them  to 
unite  with  men,  differing  indeed  from  them  in  impor¬ 
tant  articles  of  faith,  but  according  with,  them  in  the 
great  designs  of  glory  to  God  and  good  w  ill  to  men. 
The  heathen  were  perishing  in  their  blood.  It  was 
no  time  to  foster  the  spirit  of  alienation  and  bigotry. 
The  glorious  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  was 
going  on.  The  fields  were  whitening  to  the  harvest. 
Prom  every  desert  and  every  mountain  the  cry  w'as 
reverberating  in  our  ears.  “  Thrust  ye  in  the  sickle 


I 


(  15  ) 

A  sphere  of  action  was  opening  upon  the  rising  gene¬ 
ration  such  as  the  world  never  saw.  The  minority 
did  hope  that  the  majority  would  yet  tread  back  their 
ground  with  the  magnanimity  of  Christian  heroism  ; — 
or,  if  they  revolted  at  this,  that  they  would  welcome 
this  last  proposal,  would  rejoice  to  strike  their  hands 
with  ours  in  this  holy  league,  and  wherever  else  we 
might  admit  them,  eternally  banish  all  our  differences 
of  sentiment  from  this  hitherto  harmonious  Society. 
But  what  were  their  feelings  when  the  proposition,  in 
a  manner  how  little  resembling  the  Christian  spirit  wilt 
never  be  forgotten,  was  repelled  as  “  cowardly” — and 
promptly, though  reluctantly  withdrawn.  Their  utmost 
fears  were  now  realized,  and  the  hope  of  conciliation 
forever  extinguished.  There  remained  the  swreet  con¬ 
viction,  that  an  invisible  and  almighty  hand  would  yet 
be  discovered  and  exalted  in  this  unsearchable  provi¬ 
dence,  and  that  there  was  One  on  the  throne  who  was 
able  to  redeem  the  pledge,  that  “  The  w  rath  of  man 
should  praise  the  Lord,  and  the  remainder  of  wrath  He 
w'ould  restrain.”  The  yeas  and  nays  being  called  for, 
the  question  was  decided  by  a  majority  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty -two  to  ninety  •one.  T  wo  hundred  and  four¬ 
teen  members  of  the  Society  were  absent,  and  a  very 
considerable  number  of  those  present,  declined  voting. 

By  this  ruthful  blow  was  this  Fair  Temple  clov¬ 
en  to  its  base.  If  solicitude,  and  entreaty,  and 
tears  could  have  availed,  it  would  have  stood  firm  and 
risen  high.  But  the  blow  that  severed  it,  laid  the 
deep  and  broad  foundation  for  an  edifice,  whose  tri¬ 
umphal  arch  and  lofty  dome  it  is  hoped  will  be  seen 
from  afar.  Abundant  thanksgiving;  is  due  to  the 


(  16  ) 

Great  Head  of  the  church,  that  we  have  been  carried 
through  the  conflict,  and  thal  in  the  darkest  season, 
the  pillar  and  the  cloud  were  before  us.  “  Not  unto 
us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  to  thy  name  give  glory, 
for  thy  mercy  and  thy  truth’s  sake !”  It  has  been  an 
event  which  in  prospect  we  deplored,  and  which  in 
its  approaches,  has  been  resisted  by  every  expedient 
which  truth  and  charity  could  dictate.  It  has  been 
a  struggle  for  all  that  is  dear  in  religious  liberty.  It 
has  been  a  conflict  for  gospel  truth.  It  has  been  the 
birtli-pang  of  the  daughter  of  Zion  for  the  souls  of  the 
heathen.  But  the  agony  is  over.  “We  are  troubled  on 
every  side,  yet  not  distressed ;  we  are  perplexed,  but  not 
in  d  os pair  ;  persecuted,  but  not  forsaken ;  cast  down,  but 
not  destroyed.”  Though  disfranchised,  we  inherit ; 
though  excommunicated,  we  commune  ;  though  ampu¬ 
tated  from  the  body,  we  “  hold  the  head.”  While  “  The 
earth  is  the  Lord’s,  and  the  fulness  thereof,”  our  pur¬ 
pose  is  to  breathe  his  vital  air,  and  “display  a  banner 
because  of  the  truth.”  “  And  this  will  we  do  if  God 
permit.”  It  is  of  li  tie  purpose,  that  we  should  be 
thought  to  have  gained  the  victory;  it  is  sufficient  to 
have  gained  a  release  from  that  spirit  of  intolerant 
bigotry,  to  which  we  are  willing  to  bid  adieu  for¬ 
ever. 


Immediately  after  the  meeting  at  which  the  discussions  abovementioned  were 
concluded,  the  minority  proceeded  to  organize  a  new  Society.  They  had  the 
satisfaction  to  see  a  numerous  meeting,  when  the  Constitution  was  adopted,  andl 
to  hear  it  stated  at  a  meeting  of  the  Society  on  the  13th  January  1817,  that  more 
than  400  gentlemen  had  been  admitted  members  including  those  w  ho  first  signed 
the  Constitution 

The  Board  of  Directors  at  their  first  meeting  unanimously  re  solved  to  emplcQ? 
Mr.  Samuel  H.  Cox  »6  a  Missionary  of  the  Society. 


CONSTITUTION 


OF  THE 

MEW-YOIK  EYANGEJLICAE 

MISSIONARY  SOCIETY  OF  YOUNG  MEN, 

INSTITUTED 
DECEMBER  27th,  1816. 


ARTICLE  FIRST. 

This  Society  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of  the 
New-York  Evangelical  Missionary  Society  of 
Young  Men. 

ARTICLE  SECOND. 

The  object  of  this  Institution,  shall  be,  the  propay 
Ration  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

ARTICLE  THIRD. 

Any  person  recommended  by  at  least  two  mem- 
1$  as  friendly  to  the  object  of  the  Society,  and  of 
jlar  moral  deportment,  may  become  a  member, 
ded  he  be  approved  by  a  majority  of  the  Board 
:tors. 

person  thus  elected,  shall  sign  the  Constitu- 
ously  to  his  being  admitted  to  a  seat  in  the 


iber,  at  the  time  of  subscribing  the  Con- 

C 


f 


(  18  ) 


stifcution,  shall  pay  a  sum  of  not  less  than  Fifty  Cents . 


and  afterwards  a  monthly  sum  of  Twenty-Jive  Cents . 


A  payment  of  Fifty  Dollars  by  any  member  shall  be 
deemed  a  full  commutation  for  his  monthly  dues. 


ARTICLE  FOURTH. 


The  Officers  of  this  Society  shall  consist  of  a  Presi¬ 
dent,  three  Vice-Presidents,  a  Treasurer,  a  corres¬ 
ponding  Secretary,  and  a  recording  Secretary,  who, 
together  with  thirteen  Managers,  shall  form  a  Board 


of  Directors, 


The  President  for  the  time  being,  of  any  Society 
Auxiliary  to  this,  shall  be  ex-officio  a  Director  of  this 
Society.  \ 

No  person  shall  be  eligible  as  an  Officer  or  ManaK 
ger,  unless  he  be  between  twenty-one  and  forty  years 


church. 


The  Officers  and  Managers  shall  be  chosen  by  bal¬ 
lot,  the  Officers  separately,  the  Managers  by  general 
ticket,  at  the  anniversary  meeting. 


ARTICLE  FIFTH. 


it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Directors  to  form  ti 
own  bye-laws,  and  to  take  such  measures,  relati’d 
the  funds  and  all  the  other  concerns  of  the  Soci<^ 
they  may  judge  best  calculated  to  promote  thjf 
of  the  Institution.  M 

They  shall  meet  at  least  once  in  each  moJ 
transaction  of  business.  Seven  of  their  irM 
present  shall  constitute  a  quorum.  M 
They  shall  have  power  to  fill  theii^ 


